Henry csanyi



H. CSANYI. METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREPARING AND DETONATING EXPLOSIVES. APPLICATION FILED IUNEZG. 1919.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

/ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 3mm! csmr, OF new ironx, N. Y.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREPARING AND DETONA'I'ING EXPLOSIVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application filed June 26, 1919. Serial No. 808,818.

, cation.

This invention relates to the handling of explosives and particularly to a method and means for preparing explosives for detonation and for detonating same;

One of the chief difliculties connected with the use of high explosives has always been the extreme care necessary in handling them to prevent premature explosions. The result has been great expense in handling and shipping of exploslves, and a large number of accidents occur annually in spite of special precautions. None of the devices heretofore evolved has been effective to entirely or even substantially eliminate this difliculty in a way that is practical in operation and suitable to commercial requirements.

Furthermore, such arrangements have ordinarily required considerable manipulation to prepare the explosive for detonatlon. An ob]ect of my invention has been to provide means for rendering the explosive harmless to handle even though it receives rough usage incident to ordinary shipping, and means which will return the explosive to its sensitive condition without manipulation thereof. I also provide means which will transform the explosive from harmless to sensitive condition after it has been finall located inrth e position in which it is to e detonated.

Further, I have evolved a cartridge for inconnection with the accompan ing drawing, which discloses a longitudinal cross section through one preferred form of my invention.

As is well known in the art, if a high explosive contains over 20% of moisture it will not explode through rough handling or heat lower than 100 centigrade. My invention is applicable to this method of safeguarding ex losives by combining such explosive, whic may be trinitrotoluol or other explosive, either of the high or low explosive type, with a suflicient amount of moisture to render it substantially incapable of explosion from handling and from ordinary temperatures. I have found that from 20 to 40% of moisture is efl'ective but I do not limit myself to any fixed percentage as different amounts of moisture will be relativelyefi'ective.

It has heretofore been the custom to dry the explosive by pressure or by evaporation in a vacuum. These methods however are somewhat dangerous and cumbersome and for economy and convenience are applied to the explosive in bulk which necessitates the usual careful and dangerous handling of the explosive from the time it is dried to the time it isused. I provide new means for dryin the explosive out when it is desired to etonate it, such means consisting of two separated electrodes connected in circuit and in contact with the moistened explosive. When the circuit is energized the water contained by the explosive will be broken up by electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen, thus dryin out the explos ve and rendering it normal y sensitive. It 1s obv1- ous that a great many methods of introducin the electrodes may be used and that di erent methods of detonating the explosive are also applicable to my invention. I have, however, selected one of the many ways of introducing the electrodes as my preferred form and have disclosed it in the accompanying drawing, which is a longitudinal'sectional view through an explosive cartridge constructed in accordance with my invention, together with a diagram of electrical connections thereof.

My cartridge consists of a casing 1 which may be of metal or which may carry metallic elements along its inner face. At each end of the casing 1 I provide a cap. The cap 2 at one end carries an electrode 4, which projects from the cap into the interior of the cartridge and out of contact with the metallic portions of its sides, said electrode being insulated from such metallic portions either by having cap 2 made of insulating material or, when the cap 18 of metal, by inserting an insulating block 5 in an aperture in said cap through which block the electrode passes. This block preferably has a flange lying against the inner face of the cap and has an insulating disk 6 located over its outer end, the disk 6 having down-turned edges contacting with the cap 2, and said insulating disk 6 and block 5 being clamped tight to the cartridge cap by nut 7 which also holds the electrode 4 firmly in the block. The binding nut 8 is provided to fdrm a binding post connection on the end of the electrode to hold the end ofa connecting wire.

While I have described a single electrode mounted in a cartridge cap it is obvious that a plurality of electrodes may be provided inserted in various ways and mounted in any selected part of the cartridge. It will also be apparent that while I. have "disclosed a casing made entirely of metal, this is not essential it being necessary only that a plurality of insulated electrodes be provided. At the opposite end of the cartridge I provide a cap 3 which may be of metal or insulating material. Located in said cap is a similar insulating block 9 resting against the inside of the cap and passing through an aperture therein, the insulating {washer 10 lying adjacent the outer end of sai'd block and resting on the outer side of cap 3. A bolt 11 passes through the center of the block and washer and is held in position by nut 12 on its outer end. Clamped between the hreyaad of the bolt on the inside of the cart ge and the insulating block is one end of a fuse 13 connected at its other end directly to the flange of cap 14. If the cap is made of metal this will be suflicient to connect the outer end of the fuse with the metallic portion of the side of the cartridge. If the cap is made of insulating material the fuse may be mounted at 14 by a screw or other metal lic fastening passing through the flange of the 'cap and into contact with the metallic portion of the cartridge. Thenut 12 furnishes a binding post connection for the wire.

While I have described a specific form of detonating means and have located it in a specific place on the end cap opposite the electrode, this is merely one of the many possible ways of insertin detonating means. Obviously, the fuse an connections might be mounted on any part of the cartridge, or

other ordinary detonating means mi ht inserted in the usual manner. In t e atrangement I have disclosed, I operate the electrical circuits from the double pole switch-16, pole 17 being connected to the electrode binding post 7-8 and pole 18 to the detonating binding post 11-12. The switch is connected to one pole of a source of electricity 19 the other pole of which is connected to the metallic portion of the cartridge casing as at 15. J

The moistened explosive is introduced in the cartridge in any manner desired, either or both of the caps being preferably detachable, being either threaded into the easing or movably held by screws, bolts or lugs. The cartridge is so arranged that the inserted moist explosive will lie in contact with the electrode or electrodes 4 and also with the metallic portion of the casing. In this form the cartridge is ready for shipment, and as the explosive is moist and is substantially sealed 'from contact with the air to prevent evaporation, it will stand rough handling and temperatures up to about 100 centigrade. When it is desired to use the cartridge it may be connected with switch 16 and source of electricity '19 in the manner indicated; and when located in position for explosion the cartridge may be rendered sensitive whenever desired by the operator by throwing switch 16 into contact on pole 17. This will start electrolytic action between the electrode 4 and the metallic portion at the sides of the casing which will continue until the explosive is substantially dry, when the switch may be thrown off, or maybe left in position as desired, as the absence of moisture will prevent any substantial flow of current 'through the explosive. When it is desired to detonate the cartridge, all that is necessa is to throw the switch to pole 18, which Wlll operate the detonating means.

Though the cartridge disclosed is the preferred form of my invention it will be apparent that the container may be used a container, the type of electrodes used being suited to the package. 7 While I have described specific electrical connections obviously these may be varied as desired, depending'partlyupon the sources of electricity available and partly upon the form of detonator used.

In the course of electrolysis, if the explosive is moistened with water, oxygen and hydrogen will of course be given ofl" at the 7 plosive mixture. If it is desired to detoelectrodes in the proportion of two atoms of hydrogen to one of oxygen, forming an exnate the explosive by the ordinary detonating caps a vent may be provided in the cartridge for the-escape of gases-but I prefer to locate the explosive in one end of the cartridge only'as shown 'at leaving chamber 21 at the oppositeend free to accommodate the accumulated gases. If desired a dia phragm, screen orother holding means may be inserted across the cartridge as at 22 to .detonated at any time.

keep chamber 21 free of the explosive, or the cartridge may be onlypartly lled with the.

explosive wh ch may be free to move therein,

the electrode or electrodes 4 being arranged in such event-to contact with said explosive wherever it happens to be lodged.

After electrolysis is completed the hydrogenand'oxygen will collect adjacent the detonator, the proportion of the gases being such as to form the well-known detonating gas which :isthen'exploded by the detonator, which in the form disclosed is accomplished by the blowing or melting of fuse 13 and theheat produced thereby. It will be apparent that any of the several common ways of igniting said detonating gas may be substituted for the one disclosed. The cartridge-is pi'eferably'str'ong enough to resist the outward thrust of the gases roduced or if desired it may have a sa ety valve to permit escape thereof after pressure has reached a certain point.

While I 'have described the explosive as moistened with water, which is the preferred method, it is apparent that other liquids may be'substituted therefor within the scope of 'my invention and the use of the term moisture in the claims is intended to includea'ny liquid used to moisten the explosive.

It will be .evident thatthe cartridge is in compact and convenient form for shipping,

is readily connected to ordinary electrical devices and may be located in permanent p0- sition, the operator may Withdraw to a safe distance before the explosive is rendered sensitive; and the cartridge may thereafter be This provides an extremely practical, simple, cheap and safe structure. 7

I wish it to be understood, however, that my invention is not confined to 'the'specific form of cartridge disclosed, nor is it confined in its broad aspects to. any cartridge .1

at all, as the chief feature of my invention is the drying of moist explosive by electrolysis, which obviouslycan be done .by various mechanisms. I

While I have disclosed a specific form of cartridge, it is obvious that such cartridge itself may be varied in numerous ways, some of which have been indicated. 1, therefore, do not confine myself to the exact arrangement shown but the scope of my invention covers numerous modifications and re-arrangements thereof falling within the scope of my claims.

What I claim is;

1. An explosive containing moisture, a source of electrical energy and electrodes connected to the source and in contact with the explosive so as to decompose the moisture by'electrolysis.

2. An explosive normally inactive but rendered active by the passage of electrical current therethrough, electrodes in contact with said explosive, and a source of electrical energy connected to the electrodes.

3. An explosive cartridge comprising a.

container, moist explosive located therein,

and a plurality of electrodes in contact with said explosive.

4. The method'of removing moisture from I an explosive which consists in passing 'a current of electricity between electrodes in the explosive to decompose the moisture by electrolysis.

5. An explosive cartridge including a container, moist explosive located therein, an electrode on the inner surface of the container, and an electrodeinsidethereof and with said metallic surface, and an electrode mounted in one end of the container extending longitudinally therein into contact with said explosive.

8. A container for moist explosive having an electrode on its inner surface, an electrode mounted on one end and a detonator on the opposite end.

9. A11 explosive cartridge including a container with a tubular metal casing, moist explosive located therein in contact with the casing, and an insulated electrode mounted -therein in contact with said explosive.

10. An explosive cartridge including a container having a tubular metal casing,

moist explosive located therein in contact withsaid casing, and an insulated electrode extending longitudinally within said casing into contact with the explosive. 4

11. A container for moist -explosive havtrodes in one compartment anddetonating means in the other. compartment.

.12. An explosive cartridge including a container having atubula casing, moist ex-M losive located therein, and a detachable cap coated in one end of the casing and carrying two connected compartments, two elec} sald explosive.

ing an insulated electrode in contact with 13. An explosive cartridge including a container having a tubular casing, moist explosive located therein, and a-removable cap located in one end thereof and carrying detonating means. p

14. A container for moist explosive including a tubular casing, a removable cap mounted in one end of the casing, and carrying an insulated electrode and a removable cap mounted in the other end of the-casing and carrying detonating means.

15. An explosive cartridge including a container having a tubular casing, moist ex-' plosive located therein, electrodes connectmg with the interior of the casing and in contact with said explosive, and 'a wire fuse mounted within the casing.

16. An explosive cartridge including a container having a metal casing, moist explosive located therein, an insulated electrode mounted within the casing in contact with the explosive, a metal cap mounted on longitudinally of the casing, a removable metal cap mounted in the other end of the casing, a fuse directly connected at one end to said last named cap and at the other end insulated therefrom, means for connecting said insulated end of the fuse to a source of electrical ener and a perforated diaphragm locate mtermediate'said removable caps.

18. An explosive cartridge including a container, moist explosive carried by the container, means for drying the explosive, and means for detonating the explosive.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

., HE N R Y lsANYI.

transversely in the casing 

